Visa Debit Cards

[nigelf1234]

Hi
My bank has in its infinite wisdom decided to change my Maestro debit card for a Visa Debit card. I had always thought that Maestro was much more widely accept in Europe, especially in Greece & Spain where I like to go on holiday (when I can afford to!). Does anyone know the facts on this as to how widely accepted Maestro is compared with Visa Debit?
Many thanks

[Ethel]

Well I use my Nationwide Visa debit card everywhere in Spain and the Canaries without problems and have done for years.

[JimmyCooper]

As far as I am aware Visa is the most widely accepted card in the world

[ummmm]

We used our Nationwide Visa Debit card in Thailand a few years back without a problem.

[Ethel]

This site says it is accepted at 160 countries worldwide, and I see no reason to disbelieve them:
http://www.standardchartered.com/pk/personal/c redit-and-debit-cards/en/visa-shopping-card-pl us.html

Don't forget that the Visa debit card gives you similar protection as a Visa credit card, so I think it is much better than Maestro.
"Visa debit card

A Visa debit card offers significantly better protection for shoppers. Their scheme is called Visa Debit Chargeback and any bank that issues a Visa debit card has to comply with the scheme.

You can claim money back if the goods you buy are damaged, or the product or services are not delivered.

There is no limit on what you can claim. But you have to claim within 120 days of the date you expected the goods to be delivered or the firm going bust."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/working_ lunch/7593369.stm

[ummmm]

I didn't know that Ethel.....

ummmm goes off to search for damaged goods......